Watchlist
Posted on 11/25/24 by Ben Stein (he/him)
Here are some of the bills we’re tracking as they move through the statehouse. Unless otherwise noted, the best action you can take is to call or email your state legislators and tell them to support, oppose, or amend these bills.
*The most recently updated items are listed first. This list was updated on Mon. November 25, 2024.*
HB 386: This bill would phase out Ohio's income tax and eliminate the Commercial Activities Tax. It would force across-the-board cuts to programs and services Ohioans depend on, including $200 million annually from local governments (likely to drive up local taxes) and another $200 million from public libraries. It is a textbook example of how "tax extremism is a gift to the wealthy." We strongly oppose this bill, which may come up during the lame duck session.
HB 290: This bill would create a refundable Thriving Families Tax Credit. Eligible Ohioans could receive a refundable income tax credit of $1,000/year for each child ages 0-5, and $500/year for each child ages 6-17. Families making up to $65,000 would receive the full value, with phase-out beginning at $65,000 until it reaches zero at $85,000. This is an example of how the tax code can be used to help everyday Ohioans, not just the wealthy and well-connected. We strongly support it. Learn more in "The moral case for progressive tax policy," from Bailey Williams. HB 290 has had its first hearing in the House Ways and Means committee.
HB 106: This bill would require employers to provide pay stubs (earnings and deductions statements) to all employees. Pay stubs help prevent wage theft by allowing workers to check whether they’re being paid correctly for all the hours they’ve worked and that any deductions are correct. Ohio is one of only seven states that don't require employers to provide pay stubs. This is good legislation and long overdue. We support it. For more details, see our factsheet.
SB 37 / HB 29: These companion bills would change some of the rules about how the state uses driver’s license suspension as a punishment for certain offenses. SB 37 limits the use of suspensions for an array of offenses, whereas HB 29 only pertains to license suspension as a penalty for failure to pay child support. . Both were discussed at September's Drive to Justice Summit. The discussion of SB 37 begins here, and the discussion of HB 29 begins here. Neither bill goes far enough: SB 37 is better than HB 29; HB 29 is better than nothing. UPDATE: Call your legislators and tell them to add "failure-to-appear" and insurance-related suspensions to the types that are eliminated in SB 37, and pass it during Lame Duck.
HB 590: This bill creates the Hunger-Free Campus grant program, which will support efforts by Ohio colleges and universities to combat food insecurity for students. This is good policy; legislators should make it law. If they fail to do so, it should be included in the next state budget. We explain why in our budget recommendations for the Dept. of Higher Education.
HB 595: This bill would require all school districts to create or contract with providers to create half-day preschool programs by 2029. Districts would be permitted to charge tuition until the Fair School Funding Plan (FSFP) is fully implemented, at which point preschool will be funded as part of the public school system. (If the legislature lives up to the promises of the FSFP, it will be fully funded by 2026.) This is good policy; legislators should make it law. If they fail to do so, it should be included in the next state budget. We explain why in our budget recommendations for the Dept. of Children & Youth.
SB 271 / HB 645: These bills would create a property tax circuit breaker, to prevent some Ohio homeowners and renters from spending too large a share of their income on property taxes. The legislation is based on one of our proposals. We strongly support these bills and urge the legislature to pass them. Our recent testimony explains why.
SB 256: This bill would (a) improve the state Earned Income Tax Credit by adding refundable options, and (b) raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour for some employees — but not tipped workers — by January 2026. We support some elements and recommend changing others. For details, read our testimony on the minimum wage component, and testimony on the EITC component.
HB 570: This bill would make employees of child care centers eligible for publicly funded childcare. We support it, and would like to see eligibility expanded even more, to all families with income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. (That’s $6,455 per month and $77,460 annually for a family of three.) Read our report on Ohio’s childcare crisis.
HB 197 / SB 247:These companion bills would create a pilot program for community solar in Ohio. Community solar projects reduce energy costs for participants while increasing the amount of clean energy available in the state. A pilot program is a start: We support this bill as a way to begin growing community solar resources in Ohio. Our testimony on HB 197 is available to read and to watch, courtesy of the Ohio Channel.